Saturday, August 29, 2009

Getting Ready for the Daniel Fast

The Daniel Fast is quickly approaching and if you haven’t started your preparation, I encourage you to do so.Since repentance is a part of fasting, allow me to clear the air with a confession: (1) I have a problem with sugar and need to be delivered.Yet I feel like Augustine, who when he was struggling with becoming a Christian and living a celibate life (SAINT Augustine had a concubine for years prior to his conversion) he is quoted as praying, “Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.”Hello, somebody!! My sentiments exactly (about the fast that is, the rest is for another blog J!) and (2) my primary food groups have lately become meat, starch, and fat. I need a change, want a change, and it looks like a change is coming!

I have learned that I have to be prepared for change so that it sticks. I’ve heard that it takes 21 days to create a habit…hmmmm…I think this fast is just what some of us need to break some bad habits and create some good ones.I don’t want to do 21 days of sacrifice lusting after cheeseburgers, French fries, and snicker bars but to do it in a way that all of these things take their proper place in my post-fast life…Turn to your neighbor and say, “Moderation!”Yeah, chances are slim to none that I will become a vegan but chances are great that I can adopt healthier eating habits, try some new things, and lean on God more than food when stressed.

So, here are some things I’m doing to help me plan for the fast, focus myself, andguard against temptation:

(1)Begin to list my personal prayer requests in the areas of spiritual, financial, direction, and overcoming breakthrough.I want to pray and fast with purpose which means I need to be specific about what I am seeking God for

(2)Get me kitchen ready

FOOD TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:Feel free to use what works for you but this is what is helping me.I am

ØStocking up on nuts and dried fruit for snacks I can carry in my bag wherever I go and won’t go bad.I don’t want to get caught hungry with no options.Costco has these freeze dried apples and pears.1 ½ pears and 1 ½ apples in each snack pack.20 packs for $12.69 and DELICIOUS.Great sugar taste with no added sugar, as a matter of fact no added nothing-just pure, light airy, crispy fruit.Tried it out on 2 independent tasters—2 thumbs up!

ØSmart balance peanut butter has no added sugar, smooth texture, and slightly less sweet than regular.Gonna spread it on whole wheat matzos or rice cakes to get some protein

ØStocked up on a lot of frozen veggies to steam and toss in a homemade vinaigrette.Will post recipes if they turn out to be any good.

ØI like French fries and potato chips A LOT.Alternative—slice potatoes and/or sweet potatoes drizzle with just a bit of olive oil (1/2 tsp), spread out on baking sheet, season to taste and bake until they are as crispy as you like.Baked not fried chips! Also a great way to cook asparagus (drizzle with a little lemon juice)

ØBreakfast smoothies—blend fruit of your choice with ice in blender, simple, tasty, and filling.Add wheat germ or oatmeal, not instant to add some bulk.Want it creamy but know you can’t have dairy? Try adding a little rice milk or unsweetened coconut milk.I’m perfecting the St. Clair Special which is a combination of coconut or rice milk (need to decide), banana, shredded coconut, strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple.Buy big bag of frozen berries instead of fresh.Lasts longer and cheaper. Got mine from Costco.

ØWheat or whole grain pasta with marinara sauce (check for one without sugar) gonna add some veggies to the sauce

ØExperimenting with beans and bean salads/bean and pasta salads

Hope this helps! Holla back, it’s a blog, and let me know how you are doing.I am excited about sharing these 21 days with you!

10 comments:

Hi there my fellow Daniel Fast friends. Thank you Rev Raquel for getting us started with some healthy tips. I am excited about the Daniel Fast because I too am a sweet addict who has been on a personal Detox plan for the last 3 weeks to be delivered from sweets and other carbs. Folks let me tell you that our cravings are mind over matter. I didn't think I would be able to live without something sweet; but 3 weeks later I am substituting the sweet cravings with dried fruit (no added sugar), baked apples and pears with spinkled cinnamon, watermelon, bananas and complex healthy carbs.

Here are some other things that I have done during my Detox that can be used while on the Daniel Fast:

Energy Drink

I drink this in the morning before I go to the gym3 whole beets stems and leaves2 whole carrots 1 appleMake sure to always mix Beet juice with other juices, experiment to develop your own blend.

Breakfast Smoothies

Hemp milk (vanilla or chocolate) (alternative to rice or soy milk)1 scoop of Hemp protein (vanilla or chocolate) (beware whey protein has dairy)Frozen fruits (your choice, I use fresh and then freeze them)Melting ice if you want a frosty like smoothie1 tablespoon of organic flax seeds1 teaspoon of wheatgrass

okay so i'll be participating the in daniel fast (aka: the squirrel diet) and i'm HUNGRY ALREADY!!! but enough about me...here is one thing to keep in mind: the daniel diet could cause a deficiency in vitamin B12, omega-3, calcium and iron. so please take vitamin supplements.

food has never been an issue for me...but cooking has. during this fast i'll be forced to plan ahead and cook for myself, this will save a lot of money and i will force me to pay attention to what i'm putting into my body. so that will be my struggle. as for the sweets, rev. st.clair is on point, dried fruits are good for that...i'm always eating dried apricots at home...they are sooooo good!

Our bodies need complete proteins which are commonly found in animal proteins. But we don't have to eat a cow to get a complete protein. Plant based proteins are often incomplete and need to be mixed with other plant based protein to make a complete proteins. To make a complete plant based protein, try the following combinations:

Black beans with corn and/or brown ricePeanut butter with whole grains (try mixing peanut butter in with the oat meal)Whole wheat pasta with hemp seeds or any other type of nuts and tomato sauceLentil soup with a side of almonds.

Hemp protein is a whole/complete protein providing the at least 10 amino acids that are not produce by the human body. So its good to have a hemp protein smoothie at least twice a day...some brands offer 13 grams or more of protein per serving. Another bonus with the hemp protein is that it offers a lot of fiber per serving - a whopping 9 grams in some brands

If you see the following ingredients on the product label...put it back and keep on looking:

Thank you all so much for sharing information to help me/us get started on the fast. I definitely will try the dried fruits as i often feel like the "cookie monster" :)Can't wait to see how God will move.

Hey yall, I feel in my heart that God is going to move mightly during this time of fasting. This is a different type of fast and I'm expecting some different changes. I'm really excited about it. So let's do our part and allow God to do what He wants to do in our lives and in the life of the church.

Be Strong and have a wonderful day

I see that dried fruit is okay on our list of what we can eat, but it's loaded with sugar. Is it the natural sugar from the fruit that makes it okay to eat? I didn't buy any because of the sugar. Let me know if it's okay.

Also, I went to Costco's and found roasted peppers that are good and crackers. The brand for the crackers is "Back to Nature" Organic Stoneground Wheats. Baked wheat and flax seed crackers.

Good Morning to all. Well we are here. I am excited to start this fast. Let's see how I feel in a few days. lol Truthfully, I am praying to stay strong and I believe that this will bring great post-fast success. I am sure there will be many challenges during this fast, but that's what's up!!! Thanks to all who made suggestions of do's and don'ts or recipes. Talk later, enjoy your day and god bless!

Somebody help!!!! This is good, I'm able to look and see what folks are eating and I'm still goin bannanas......

I haven't eaten yet...don't worry, I'm on vacation, cleaning and throwing things out getting Elijah ready for school next week.

I plan to go and get some veggies and a big ol' bag of brwon rice and whole wheat pasta. I'll check to see what I can season the pasta with, but I believe I will get through the first day....and the next